Bacillus thuringiensis shelf life

[Semjase]

>Bt is a toxic inclusion body produced by a strain of bacteria.  Outside
>the bacterial host the inclusion body cannot/does not survive, reproduce
>or otherwise persist.  It is sensitive to UV degredation.
>
>Manufacture, I believe is accomplished through the use of Biotechnology to
>incorporate the genes for inclusion body replication in profusely growing
>bacterial cell lines (presumably E-coli).  The BT toxin is extracted and
>then formulated into an insecticide.  The sprayed insecticide
>(bioinsecticide) has inclusion bobies not living bacteria.  There are
>numerous strains of Bt that are specific to host insect genera, orders etc
>and therefore does not mass kill a broad spectrum of insects. 
>
>There are instances of resistance to Bt occuring, usually on pests of
>vegetable crops.
>
>This has been a very safe product when used correctly-- check the LD50 of
>table salt in comparison--you might be suprised!
>
>Mike Griggs
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>     Yesterday is  a canceled check;
>     Tomorrow is a promissary note;
>     Today is the only cash you have;
>     Spend it wisely.
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
>
>In article <1998062600374200.UAA15065 at ladder01.news.aol.com>,
>semjase at aol.com (Semjase) wrote:
>
>
>
>>Don:
>>
>>You are not correct in this, it is highly destructive and will persist in
>soils
>>for an unknown length

The toxicity to humans is not the point of the discussion.

S.